Miami’s taste of Greece

Estiatorio Milos, a high-end restaurant in Miami, FL, is defined by Greek Dionysos marble to create a Mediterranean atmosphere

Designed by Jeffrey Beers of Jeffrey Beers International, a Mediterranean-style design was achieved for the interior of Miami Milos with Dionysos from Greece. Designer: Jeffery Beers, Jeffrey Beers International, New York, NY; Installer: SVP Marble & Tile, Pompano, FL
A feature wall adorned in brilliant blue shades of mosaics contrasts nicely with the white marble that is employed as large-format polished floor tiles and for the face of the bar and service stations as well as to clad columns in the interior dining space.
The stone installation posed some challenges in areas such as the entry where radial pieces were necessary to fit the circular design.
Complementing the white marble, Keystone limestone, which was quarried locally, was used on the walls in the bar area around the wine cabinet.

Located in the trendy “South of 5th” neighborhood in Miami’s South Beach, Estiatorio Milos by Costas Spiliadis (“Milos Miami”) welcomes visitors with everything necessary for a Mediterranean resort. Project designer Jeffrey Beers of Jeffrey Beers International in New York, NY, worked tirelessly to make the restaurant a physical representation of the Milos philosophy: “to present the highest quality ingredients prepared in the simplest way and offered with sincere, passionate hospitality.” Another key inspiration for the design was Greece, the homeland of client Costa Spiliadis. As a result, Dionysos marble from Greece creates fresh contemporary appeal in the restaurant’s interior dining space.

The white marble in large-format polished floor tiles flows throughout Milos Miami, bringing a crisp posh feel to the interior design. Moreover, the marble was employed for the face of the bar and service stations as well as to clad columns. With its soft and rich characteristics, the Dionysos marble achieves a classic and timeless look as well as carrying the aesthetics of the Mediterranean into the design.

A focal point on a wall near the bar is a display of two monumental quarried but unfinished slabs of the Dionysos marble — measuring 5 x 9 feet and 4 inches thick. The slabs, which each weigh 2 tons, were intended to be raw counterpoints to the restaurant’s polished surfaces.

The white Dionysos marble is a signature design element found in each of the Milos restaurants. Its subtle veining and soft texture are an important part of the romantic vision for Milos Miami. “This marble is a signature design element for the owner, and he was committed to using it from the start of the design process,” said Beers.

“The amount of marble that was imported for Milos was pretty amazing,” the designer went on to say. “The installation of that much stone was the most challenging part of the project. In fact, an installation expert from the Greek quarry came to Miami for several months to supervise that part of the project.”

Complementing the white marble, local limestone was used on the walls in the bar area around the wine cabinet. “The Florida limestone is a stone called Keystone, and it is a natural coral shell fossil from Florida,” explained Beers. “We wanted to use a rough stone so that we could dramatically light the texture. The client loved the idea, but wanted to use a local Florida stone.”

Further contributing to the Mediterranean environment is a feature wall adorned in brilliant blue shades of mosaics. “The glass mosaic tile reflects the blues of the Mediterranean Sea — from bright aqua to deep violet — that is the ultimate source of the restaurant’s culinary point of view,” explained Beers.

Work on Miami Milos began in August, 2010, and the project was completed in July of 2012. “While the installer supervised the day-to-day installation, over the course of eight months, our team was there every two to three weeks to supervise progress,” said Beers. With overwhelmingly positive response, the project has been called “a very uplifting interior design and a convivial atmosphere.” This is Jeffrey Beers International’s second project with Spiliadis. Beers and his team designed Estiatorio Milos by Costas Spiliadis in Las Vegas at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in 2010.

In this month's issue of Stone World, check out an article on how government agencies are teaming with stone industry professionals to provide safe work environments. Also check out some features on quartz surfacing.